Screenings in the Bay (Friday to Sunday): A Monster Calls, Videofilia, Viva

Hey guys, happy Friday ☺ It's a weird kind of weekend we have coming towards us; there isn't too much horror, exactly, but a lot of sci-fi and adjacent genres screening in the bay area. A Monster Calls gets a wide release today. From what I can tell, it would be a cool thing to take an unsqueamish kid to. I get a kind of Where the Wild Things Are vibe from it, but I could be wrong. The Castro Theatre will be showing David Bowie double features in order to pay tribute to hos birthday, which would have been Sunday. Also on Sunday, the Roxie Theatre will be showing a collection of Anna Biller's (The Love Witch) short films, as well as her previous movie, Viva. Both screenings will be followed by a Skype interview with Ms. Biller.

Opening Today

A Monster Calls (2017)

Opens Friday 6th (1hr 38min)

Comedy/ Drama/ Sci-Fi

A visually spectacular drama from director J.A. Bayona ("The Impossible"). 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall), dealing with his mother's (Felicity Jones) illness, a less-than-sympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver), and bullying classmates, finds a most unlikely ally when a Monster appears at his bedroom window. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth. Toby Kebbell plays Conor's father, and Liam Neeson stars in performance-capture and voiceover as the nocturnally visiting Monster of the title.

Castro Theatre

Alien (1979)

Friday 6th @ 7:30pm (1hr 57min)

Horror/ Scifi (IMDB)

After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as distress call, their landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious lifeform. Continuing their journey back to Earth with the attacked crew having recovered and the critter deceased, they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.

-with-

Lifeforce (1985)

Friday 6th @ 9:40pm (1hr 40min)

Action/ Horror/ Sci-fi (RottenTomatoes)

When alien vampires terrorize London, it's up to a determined police inspector and an astronaut to stop them. American and British space travelers discover humanoids while exploring near Halley's Comet. The astronauts bring three of these aliens aboard their spaceship and head back to earth. However, their guests turn out to be evil vampires who kill all but one of the astronauts -- Carlsen. After the ship arrives in London, the monsters -- led by a beautiful female -- escape and wreak havoc throughout the city, transforming humans into zombies. Meanwhile, the surviving astronaut and Caine, a determined police inspector, frantically try to track down the creatures, and destroy them. But the "Space Girl" has a strange hold over Carlsen, and he has trouble fighting the urge to join her.

Bowis's Birthday Weekend

Labyrinth (1986)

Saturday 7th @ 7:30pm (1hr 41min)

Action/ Cult/ Fantasy (RottenTomatoes)

Fifteen-year-old Sarah resents her baby brother Toby and secretly wishes that he will just disappear. Her wish comes true when goblins kidnap the boy. Feeling responsible and guilty about his abduction, she sets forth to retrieve him, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. To rescue her brother, she must sneak into the castle of the Goblin King, which is in the center of a fantastical labyrinth. But, the task is easier said than done, for the maze is filled with strange creatures and mind-bending puzzles, and nothing is really as it seems.

-with-

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

Saturday 7th @ 9:25pm (1hr 30min)

Documentary/ Music (IMDB)

Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker (Don’t Look Back) focuses his lens on a 1973 concert by David Bowie and his glam-rock backing band, the performance of which would be the last for his androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The live show is augmented by brief backstage footage but the focus is on the jams — everything from hits to album cuts to Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground covers.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Sunday 8th @ 2pm & 7pm (2hrs 28min)

Drama/ Sci-Fi/ Fantasy (RottenTomatoes)

Space alien (Bowie) crash lands on Earth, seeking help for his drought-stricken planet. By securing patents to advanced technology, he becomes a fabulously wealthy industrialist. However, money and its attendant decadence ultimately exert a stronger gravitational pull. Bowie seemed perfectly cast as the space traveller, and the film further cemented director Roeg's status as one of the most unique filmmakers of the 1970's. Originally cut by 20 minutes in its 1976 US release, this anniversary presentation is the complete version.

-with-

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)

Sunday 8th @ 4:35pm & 9:35pm (2hrs 3min)

Drama/ War (IMDB)

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was the first English-language project of Japanese director Nagisa Oshima (Death by Hanging, In the Realm of the Senses). In tune with his previous filmic essays on racism and brutality, Merry Christmas concentrates on a war of wills between rebellious POW David Bowie and camp commandant Ryuichi Sakomoto. Assuming that his other prisoners' unwillingness to protest their cruel treatment is a sign of weakness, Sakomoto is most impressed by Bowie's enigmatic defiance. While Bowie and Sakomoto seem to be operating on a high spiritual and intellectual plane, bilingual prisoner Tom Conti (the "Mr. Lawrence" of the title) engages in a more standard adversarial relationship with sadistic sergeant Takeshi Kitano.

Roxie Theatre

Videofilia (And Other Viral Syndromes) (2016)

Friday 6th & Saturday 7th @ 7pm (1hr 52min)

Sunday 8th @ 8pm

Art House/ Comedy/ Drama/ Sci-Fi (RottenTomatoes)

VIDEOFILIA (and Other Viral Syndromes) begins with a teenage misfit spending her first days out of school slacking, experimenting with drugs and cyberspace. She meets Junior online. He's an aspiring amateur porn dealer, who's into conspiracy theories and is convinced that the Mayan Apocalypse is happening. Once they meet in the 'real world,' a series of bizarre events unfold in this contemporary non-love story portraying postmodern Lima as a glitchy computer virus full of corruption, psychedelia and ancient ruins.

Director Juan Daniel F. Molero IN PERSON for Q&A after 7pm show on Friday, 1/6, 

and after 7pm show on Saturday, 1/7

Anna Biller: Shorts

Sunday 8th @ 3:30pm (1hr 38min)

THREE EXAMPLES OF MYSELF AS QUEEN

16mm, 1994, 26 min.

THE HYPNOTIST

16mm, 2001, 45 min.

A VISIT FROM THE INCUBUS

16mm, 2001, 27 min.

Followed by a Skype Q&A with Anna Biller

Viva (2007)

Sunday 8th @ 6:30pm (2hrs)

Art House/ Comedy/ Drama (RottenTomatoes)

Before THE LOVE WITCH, Anna Biller made VIVA. Sharing its sucessor’s sumptuous colors, impeccable costuming and sets while shedding a new light on the swinging lifestyles of the sexploitation era, VIVA is an impeccably recreated romp through a lost era of film, sharp, fun and kinky.

Abandoned by her perfect Ken-doll husband, Barbi is dragged into trouble by her girlfriend, who spouts women’s lib as she gets Barbi to discard her bra and go out on the town. Barbi becomes a Red Riding Hood in a sea of wolves, and quickly learns a lot more than she wanted to about the different kinds of scenes going on in the wild ’70’s, including nudist camps, the hippie scene, orgies, bisexuality, sadism, drugs, and bohemia.

Followed by a Skype Q&A with Anna Biller

-Huntress

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: I Am Not A Serial Killer

9 of 9 viewers "Liked" "I Am Not A Serial Killer" (2016, USA)

Here's what the creatures had to say:

Speed Demon (R) - "I love how one scene can totally surprise you and blow you away. This film took a direction I never saw coming and that's what I loved about it. Keeping your attention is a problem with a lot of films these days. Not this one. Excellent all around with characters, plot and story. Emotions will fly. A must watch for sure." - 4 Stars

Lord Battle - "I Am Not A Serial Killer is a strong indie drama that evolves into a horror film. Originally the name of this feature didn't grab my attention and I would have skipped it completely if it weren't for our Thursday Twitter poll. There isn't much you can say about I Am Not A Serial Killer without spoiling anything, so if you enjoy features that explore human emotion and the relevance thereof, check this one out." - 4 Stars

KillDozer - "Billy O' Brian has been a name in the genre for a while both writing and directing. His titles include 2014's Hybrid, and 2005's Isolation, neither of which have received as much attention as his newest endeavor I Am Not a Serial Killer which can been seen streaming on Netflix. This was a fun film with nostalgic elements that brought movies like Silver Bullet, Rear Window, and even 1986's The Fly to mind. A tale we have been told before where the outsider can become a hero and love can be an inspiration for murder. Strong performances from all but I must give a nod to Christopher Lloyd for an amazing role played well. I have to say I loved this movie until the 3rd act when I started liking it only because I felt It could have gone in a much more impactful direction. When all is said and done, this is a good movie worth sharing and it has something for everyone!" - 4 stars (Collection worthy because it was fun, well written, and was romantic, even for a monster kid)

Huntress - "I already know I would re-watch I Am Not a Serial Killer; it has the kind of details that would benefit from closer attention and a layered story that I really enjoyed watching unfold. Everything from the sets to the progression of time worked. I felt like I could have watched another hour." - 4.5 Stars

Dabbles - "I really didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this. It feels a bit long but it intrigued me. For a minute I thought it was about to turn into a slasher, until something happens then I was like "Oh that's different!!" There was character development, great use of handheld, and dialogue was interesting, it is totally worth a watch." - 4 Stars

The Great Hornito - "I liked I Am Not a Serial Killer because it kept me guessing the main character's mental health throughout the film. I'm still not sure if he is a typical sociopath or not. The pace, tension, and acting were all superb. It was almost like a bizarro ET movie." -5 Stars

The Berkeley Blazer - "When the movie began I wasn't expecting much, but I liked the protagonist well enough and was willing to play ball. As each new scene unfolded I kept wondering what this movie would ultimately be about, but also gradually invested myself in the world of the snowy hamlet almost without realizing it.. The narrative trajectory is straightforward enough but elusive and doesn't really assert itself until about the midpoint of the film, while this structure gives the film a particular kind of unpredictability that ultimately works to it's favor. This film is really about a duel between two characters of a similar nature and the questions is asks about it's main characters are poignant and have emotional resonance. What makes the duel compelling rather than just simply interesting, are the people that are attached to these characters, even though they are unaware of what is taking place between protagonist and antagonist. Your reactions to this movie will likely be particularly dependent on the particular timbre of your natural sympathies and the topography of your compassion, as well as how your ideas about community are constructed. While this film isn't as tightly controlled as I might have hoped, the only reason I feel this is the films overall quality render it's minor failings all the more stark." - 4.5 Stars

Math Mage - *Spoiler* - "Charming coming of age drama for the modern adolescent sociopath, and Christopher Lloyd is a monster!" - 4 Stars

Clark Little (R) - "A small town adolescent, who has a hankering for killing, is held tightly by his own set of rules and by the influence of his psychiatrist. This film feels like the television series Dexter if it were written as a John Cougar Mellencamp song. A film that is held together by a strong performance from Christopher Lloyd, I don’t know if he’s ever been better. His portrayal of an elderly neighbor is measured and powerful.
It's unfortunate that the ending came out of nowhere to me. I was not into it. However, it’s not a deal breaker. Don’t let this one get free." -3.5 Stars

(R) - Viewed the film remotely, which may have impacted the reviewer's opinion.

The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

One thing that people always seem to get caught up on when watching a show/movie about a sociopath is how a real psychotic would or should act and how the show/movie is misrepresenting it. I specifically heard a lot of this when Dexter was still on air (I may or may not agree with most of it) and after a few great post screening discussions on I Am Not A Serial Killer this topic popped up again. Now I understand this will always come into play when dealing with this specific subject matter, so I decided to add some helpful literature below to help educate us on the metal disorder.

Definition

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also known as dissocial personality disorder (DPD) and sociopathy, is a personality disorder, characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. An impoverished moral sense or conscience is often apparent, as well as a history of crime, legal problems, or impulsive and aggressive behavior.

Neurological

Researchers have linked physical head injuries with antisocial behavior. Since the 1980s, scientists have associated traumatic brain injury, including damage to the prefrontal cortex, with an inability to make morally and socially acceptable decisions. Children with early damage in the prefrontal cortex may never fully develop social or moral reasoning and become "psychopathic individuals ... characterized by high levels of aggression and antisocial behavior performed without guilt or empathy for their victims." Additionally, damage to the amygdala may impair the ability of the prefrontal cortex to interpret feedback from the limbic system, which could result in uninhibited signals that manifest in violent and aggressive behavior.

Family environment

Some studies suggest that the social and home environment has contributed to the development of antisocial behavior. The parents of these children have been shown to display antisocial behavior, which could be adopted by their children.

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With this knowledge it seems like almost anyone could potentially be a Sociopath or suffer from ASPD, so how can any of us operate normally knowing what we now know? Well thankfully enkivillage.com has come up with:

"10 Red Flags You Should Notice Of A Sociopath"

1

Charming

Sociopaths tend to be charming and charismatic, attracting people who simply want to be close to them. When seeking answers about what is a sociopath, charming is one those traits. They typically attract those seeking direction or guidance. They usually have strong sexual attraction or seem sexy. Yet, remember that not every sexy person is a sociopath, but you should still pay attention if someone has weird fetishes and extreme sexual appetites.

2

Intelligence

Sociopaths are typically very intelligent. However, instead of letting their knowledge empower themselves, they use it for deception and advancement. This means that the high IQs of sociopaths can be dangerous, with examples being found among serial killers who evaded the law.

3

No Remorse, Guilt or Shame

Sociopaths can't feel remorse, guilt or shame because their brains don't have the proper wiring. This means that they can threaten or harm people or betray them without worrying about the consequences. What is a sociopath? The answer usually leads to people who pursue their self-interest, even if it harms others. As such, successful sociopaths can be found in top government positions worldwide.

4

Intense and Spontaneous

Sociopaths are usually more intense and spontaneous than others. They aren't bound by typical social contracts and may engage in behavior that seems extremely risky or irrational. They also do bizarre things that others wouldn't.

5

Seek to Win

These people will hate to lose any fight or argument, leading to defending their lies at all costs, even if it becomes absurd based on logic. They simply want to win or dominate other no matter the cost.

6

Incapable of Love

People with this condition are completely self-serving and cannot love. They might pretend to have compassion or feel love to get their way, but they don't actually feel the emotion in the same way that others do.

7

Invent Lies

Sociopaths invent lies concerning their experiences that are outrageous in nature. They rely on storytelling and their charismatic nature to achieve their words. They may exaggerate wildly, but somehow make their absurd tales seem believable when they tell them to you.

8

Speak Poetically

Sociopaths can speak poetically, creating a hypnotic and intriguing monologue in the stream of conscious style. They can be expert storytellers and sometimes poets as well, using their words to spread lies in a hypnotic manner.

9

Never Apologize

Looking at what is a sociopath shows people who never feel guilt or accept they are wrong and will therefore never apologize. Even in cases where they are given proof that they are incorrect, they won't apologize, attacking instead.

10

Believe They Make the Truth

Sociopaths are delusional to the extent that they think that things they say become truth just because they said it. Charles Manson, one of the most famous sociopath murderers, is known to have said that he hadn't killed anyone and doesn't have to live in the "physical realm" as he can kill people in his head.

...Yeah. So what if this very detailed and airtight list starts to describe your personality?! Well thankfully another site (SociopathTest.net) has come up with a personal test consisting of 25 questions that will answer the question, "Am I a Sociopath?"

And all joking aside, the internet seems to be obsessed with this idea of a 10 question magazine style quiz having a thorough psychotic analysis capable of actually answering this extremely tough question. But the test I've shared the link to is a much more interesting version of these lame quizzes. It hides the intent behind each part creatively helping reinforce the illusion that we may actually fail. Check it out here. 

- Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a special screening on  12/22/2016

*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.

The Overlook Hour Guest Profile: Scott Frazelle, Father of Moggy Creatures

Welcome back for another episode of The Overlook Hour everyone! This week, the guys are joined by Scott Frazelle, the writer, creator, and director of an indie film that I personally can’t wait for, Moggy Creatures. If this title sounds familiar, it may be because you’re already be following Moggy Creatures or Scott on their many social media accounts, or that perhaps you remember KillDozer’s interview with Scott from a couple months ago. Either way, you’re in for another great interview with this week’s podcast. 

We had the pleasure of meeting Scott, along with a prototype of one of his monsters, while we were stuck in the most confusing parking structure ever, on our way to Monsterpalooza. Since that meeting, it's just been a pleasure to watch his project develop and the cats grow, and this new update he gave on The Overlook Hour is extremely exciting for more than one reason. But you’ll have to listen to find out what they are. 

I will say this: a crowdfunding campaign is in the works, and you'll have the chance to get your hands on a Barbie-scale Moggy Creature action figure, and there was talk of some variation of cat head/skull mug (which I really, really want!). The campaign is scheduled to launch January 17th, but until then, you can find out more about Moggy Creatures at their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And be sure to sign up for the newsletter at MoggyCreatures.com 😼

-Huntress

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring Blair Witch (2016), The Hollow and Denial

January 03, 2017

The very first Bluray Tuesday arrives! I'm hoping everyone had a great New Year weekend. 2017 starts off really slow with only one main pickup for me this week which is Blair Witch. Blair Witch (2016) is a direct sequel to 1999's breakout original. If you missed out on our review check it out here. The rest of the films on the lineup for today I don't know too much about. The Hollow looks interesting and I may check it out in the near future but definitely not a day one pickup for me. Denial has gotten some good reviews online and has some good actors so it looks promising as well. Family comedy film of the week is Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, and it looks pretty funny with a diary of a wimpy kid vibe to it. Last but not least, in celebration of Mariah Carey's infamous NYE performance a few nights ago, is Glitter. This is the first time this is on Bluray from Mill Creek so I'm sure the transfer isn't the best but if you are a Mariah Carey fan it's only 7 bucks this week. So what will you buy, rent or skip this week? Let us know in the comments. Until next week!

Blair Witch (2016): Amazon - $19.99

A young man and his friends venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mystery surrounding his missing sister. Many believe her disappearance 17 years earlier is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when two locals act as guides through the dark and winding woods. As the night wears on, a visit from a menacing presence soon makes them realize that the legend is all too real, and more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary with Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett
• Never Ending Night: The Making of Blair Witch (6-Part Documentary)
• "Primal Fear: Story Origins"
• "Ambiguous Loss: The Cast"
• "P.O.V.: On Location"
• "Trapped in the Time Loop: Editing"
• "Distorted Reality: Music and Sound Design"
• "The Reveal"
• "House of Horrors: Exploring the Set" Featurette 

 

The Hollow:  Amazon - $14.99

When a U.S. congressman's daughter passing through a small town in Mississippi dies in a mysterious triple homicide, a team of F.B.I. agents descends to investigate.

 

Denial: Amazon - $20.99

When university professor Deborah E. Lipstadt includes World War II historian David Irving in a book about Holocaust deniers, Irving accuses her of libel and sparks a legal battle for historical truth. With the burden of proof placed on the accused, Lipstadt and her legal team fight to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred. Based on the book "History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier."

 

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life: Amazon - $19.99

Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) has an epic imagination and a slight problem with authority, and these things collide when he transfers to a middle school where students are expected to follow the rules. This doesn't sit well with Rafe. With help from his new friend Leo (Thomas Barbusca), the mischievous lad concocts schemes to drive his tyrannical principal (Andy Daly) crazy while also using his charm and wits to impress a girl (Isabela Moner) and battle the bullies.

Special Features:

• "That Middle School Life" Featurette
• "Middle School = The Worst / Making Movies = The Best" Featurette
• "The Wedgie Wheel" Featurette
• "Yolo: Behind Operation Rafe" Featurette
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes

 

Glitter: Amazon - $6.99

Music legend Mariah Carey makes her feature film debut in this love story set against the backdrop of the New York club scene. Carey plays a young singer who overcomes a turbulent childhood and begins an exciting but often volatile and precarious journey to superstardom.

 

 -The Impostor 

Screenings in the Bay (Monday to Friday): A Monster Calls, Under the Skin, Damned Children Double Feature

Welcome to 2017 everybody! I hope you all enjoyed your New Year's Eve and day, and that you're ready for this brand new year. We had a combination busy and lazy break, but we made sure to get our Top 10 Horror Films of 2016 posted in a timely manner. Check it out and see if you agree. We also went through some of our proudest moments of 2016, which you can find here. But enough reminders, let's check out what we've got going this week!

I'm happy to see the return of Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday at the Alamo Drafthouse, but a word of warning to you last minute ticket buyers, this week both signature series are in theatre 5, which is much smaller than the usual screen. So you should get those tickets sooner rather than later. This week we're also getting another vintage horror double feature from our friend Kai, host of the Super Shangri-La Show. The theme this week is Damned Children, and teachers get in free! And finally, we're getting a new release, with early screenings this Thursday. It's not exactly a horror movie, more of a dark fantasy, but it does feature a huge monster so I'm still interested in checking it out. What are you guys going to try and make it to?

Opening This Week

A Monster Calls (2017)

Opens Thursday 5th

Comedy/ Drama/ Sci-Fi

A visually spectacular drama from director J.A. Bayona ("The Impossible"). 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall), dealing with his mother's (Felicity Jones) illness, a less-than-sympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver), and bullying classmates, finds a most unlikely ally when a Monster appears at his bedroom window. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth. Toby Kebbell plays Conor's father, and Liam Neeson stars in performance-capture and voiceover as the nocturnally visiting Monster of the title.

Alamo Drafthouse

Terror Tuesday

Feast (2005)

Tuesday 3rd @ 10:30pm (1hr 35min)

Action/ Comedy/ Horror (RottenTomatoes)

One evening at a rural bar, a motley bunch of patrons struggle to survive a ravenous family of flying beasts bent on eating all of them.

Weird Wednesday

Under the Skin (2013)

Wednesday 4th @ 10:45pm (1hr 48min)

Drama/ Horror/ Scifi (IMDB)

A mysterious woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. Events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.

Balboa Theatre

Super Shangri-La Show

Damned Children Double Feature

Village of the Damned (1960)
Wednesday 4th @ 7:30pm (1hr 17min)

Horror/ Sci-Fi (IMDB)

In the English village of Midwich, the blonde-haired, glowing-eyed children of uncertain paternity prove to have frightening powers.

-with-

Children of the Damned (1964)

Wednesday 4th @ 9pm (1hr 30min)

Horror/ Mystery/ Sci-Fi (RottenTomatoes)

This sequel to Village of the Damned finds six children born in places around the world and blessed with high intelligence and laser eyes. Two scientists (Alan Badel, Ian Hendry) bring them together, but quickly begin to fight amongst themselves for possession of the children.

Teachers get in free!

Castro Theatre

Double Feature

Alien (1979)

Friday 6th @ 7:30pm (1hr 57min)

Horror/ Scifi (IMDB)

After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as distress call, their landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious lifeform. Continuing their journey back to Earth with the attacked crew having recovered and the critter deceased, they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.

-with-

Lifeforce (1985)

Friday 6th @ 9:40pm (1hr 40min)

Action/ Horror/ Sci-fi (RottenTomatoes)

When alien vampires terrorize London, it's up to a determined police inspector and an astronaut to stop them. American and British space travelers discover humanoids while exploring near Halley's Comet. The astronauts bring three of these aliens aboard their spaceship and head back to earth. However, their guests turn out to be evil vampires who kill all but one of the astronauts -- Carlsen. After the ship arrives in London, the monsters -- led by a beautiful female -- escape and wreak havoc throughout the city, transforming humans into zombies. Meanwhile, the surviving astronaut and Caine, a determined police inspector, frantically try to track down the creatures, and destroy them. But the "Space Girl" has a strange hold over Carlsen, and he has trouble fighting the urge to join her.

Roxie Theatre

Nippon Nights Presents

Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

Tuesday 3rd @ 9:30pm (1hr 24min)

Animation/ Drama/ Sci-Fi/ Romance (RottenTomatoes)

This well-crafted Japanese animated feature adapts the novel Belladonna by Jules Michelet in a unique manner. The story concerns a love affair, taking place in the Middle Ages, shadowed by witch-trials and the Inquisition. The actual moments of the story are shown in more-or-less still tableaux, but the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters are fully animated. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

-Huntress

The Overlook Theatre's Top 10 Horror Films of 2016

My computer Goblin recently died, so thank you Book Wyrm for piecing this banner together last minute. - Lord Battle

Hail Internet invaders, web surfing weirdos, and virtual voyeurs and welcome to this year's Top 10 Horror Films of 2016 as the Overlook Theatre sees fit.

2016 started off on a bad foot as the first film we made a trip out to go see was The Forest... which was so bad that it actually scared off some of the more hardy creatures for the next couple of weeks. Yet the weeks still rolled on and films like The Boy, Pride Prejudice and Zombies, Light's Out, and Boo! A Madea Halloween continued to play theatres. While films like Bleed, Anti-Birth, The Eyes of My Mother, and The Love Witch all saw limited releases and a huge lack of eyes.

The Overlook Theatre's list is comprised of character creatures reviews, lists, and overall enthusiasm. Some creatures love horror movies and may come off a bit biased to veteran directors like James Wan, while others only watch horror films when they wonder into a residence possessed by the Overlook. The goal here is to provide a balanced list not represented by horror fans or critics but by an audience that watches whatever Lord Battle (speaking now) subjects them too.
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10.) The Wailing

Sitting at the bottom of our list is a South Korean film directed by Na Hong-jin (The Yellow Sea, The Chaser) that made waves on social media, given you're in the horror bubble. Otherwise you probably didn't hear about this lengthy Cohen Brothers-esque, dark fairy tale and that's a shame... But to be fair neither did most of the Overlook's regulars as only 3 creatures scratched The Wailing on their list. The key here is that everyone one who saw it really enjoyed it... except for our newest fiend The Ascendant, who thought it was just to long.
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9.) The Conjuring 2

It's surprising how low The Conjuring 2 eventually settled on our list. This was a film that had some anticipation, seeing as how well its predecessor did not only for Blumhouse but for studio horror as a whole. I personally saw this film twice in the theatre, once at the Alamo and a second time at a large theatre in a mall (Century Tanforan). The first time at the Alamo was a pre-screening event that had some seating issues. Issues that carried into the first 5-10 min of the film (this was on the patrons not the Alamo) but even with this major distraction the film played beautifully. The one thing I need to stress about seeing films at the Alamo Drafthouse SF is that they play their films LOUD and it's awesome. So awesome that in a tense film like The Conjuring 2 any pause in long shots of suspense was greeted with a uniform exhale from the audience. Now at Tanforan there wasn't a moment you couldn't hear your neighbor chewing popcorn. Does this change an audiences experience? Hell yes it does. Did it hurt this film and cause it to clock in at number 9 on our list? No. What caused that was an early release. Oh well, James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious) is doing just fine.

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8.) Ouija: Origin of Evil

In the dawn of this Mike Flanagan (Hush, Occulus) helmed sequel The Overlook Theatre held a small screening of the original film Ouija. I was honestly surprised at how run of the mill the original Hasboro film played. I was expecting a money grab train wreck of excellent proportions, instead I just got a boring ghost story filled with pretty people.... In fact, now Oujia seems like the uninspired money grab of a sequel to its obviously superior Origin of Evil. Unlike The Wailing and The Conjuring 2, Oujia didn't open early and allow fans to forget or suffer from a lack of eye balls; what hurt Oujia: Origin of Evil is its ability to live deep in the troupes of horror, making no attempt to appear "elevated" or painstakingly researched. It's flat out just a damn good horror movie. On a side note, if you liked The Conjuring series but hate The Warrens (yes I've heard this complaint) Oujia: Origin of Evil is just your film. Featuring a similar period piece aesthetic, strong acting, and a toned down religious aspect.
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7.) Don't Breathe

Fede Alvarez's (Evil Dead (2013)) newest film has become a regular topic of conversation on our new podcast The Overlook Hour (pardon the shameless plug) since this seems to be what "film" fans are watching, as far as horror goes. Now what I mean by "film" fans would best be explained as someone who describes the type of movies they watch strictly as "film", whereas movies are something watered down artistically for the masses. And I honestly mean no implication when I point out that almost every guest we've had on the show from one of the lead singers of Set Your Goals, Jordan Brown to local film house host and avante garde film curator for the pier 13 Exploratorium, Sam Sharky have seen this damn movie and even if it was the only one they had seen in months. Nonetheless Fede's film is horror despite its highbrow reception and his finished product is something of a Spring Breakers horror movie, throwing some pretty millennial into a situation ala The People Under The Stairs and The Collector. On a side note, this was the only film that had a voice speak out against it appearing on our list. The grave robbing ghoul was non-other than the outspoken KillDozer who so thoughtfully dubbed this film "Don't Bother" and in the process was branded with a hashtag #CantWaitToHate.
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6.) Under the Shadow

This amazing feature debut from Babak Anvari is my personal favorite of the year and winner of the "Not enough eyeballs" award. Under The Shadow follows in the tradition of The Babadook by reinventing the ghost story narrative with a heavy dose of arthouse. Set in the 1980's, our story takes place in a house located in the middle of war-torn Tehran. Beautifully illustrating how stress is the unseen ghost in our horror stories and unlike most aspirators it's fucking real. If you want more well-researched horror films like The Shinning and The Witch, Under The Shadow will ease you in and blow you away. Seriously, after exiting one of the two shows this played at the Alamo, I turned to the Math Mage and asked what he thought. He looked up but still into the distance and said in a low unfamiliar voice, "That was scary.".
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5. Hush

On March 12 of 2016, a little 1 million dollar horror film hit NetFlix. On March 13 of 2016, I Lord Battle was set upon by hoards of peasants claiming they had found something on NetFlix that I needed to see. Obviously as the Lord of the Overlook I had already seen all the great horror that would find itself in front of the plethora of peons who browse NetFlix for hours on end... yet I hadn't seen this one. When I took to the Internet to find out about what film I had somehow missed, I was shocked to see it wasn't just some film that popped up, but rather a Mike Flanagan film (Written and Directed by!) that just popped up! The creatures of the Overlook have been restless for some time now having seen Mike Flanagan not get the proper respect he deserves. Hopefully landing twice on our list this year will help him out ;). Hush is a skillfully made home invasion film that couldn't have played better when we screened it. Oh and when you start the film just know that your audio is fine; Mike's just showing you how precious our hearing is.
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4. The Neon Demon

Often referred to as beautiful but lacking substance, which I'd like to counter by saying Beauty is the Beast in Nicolas Winding Refn's dark L.A. fairy tale, he himself calls a horror movie. And one should take in the powerful mood The Neon Demon emits via color pallet, pacing, and Cliff Martinez's brilliant score, as each of these is a tool being used to paint a story that can only be described as superficially scary.
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3.) Green Room

The Overlook Theatre has more than a few musically inclined monsters among its ranks and even a few that have shared enough success to tour quit often. Sitting with them as Green Room played was an experience in and of itself but even for those who have no way to understand the Hardcore Punk scene or even what it's like to fall asleep while driving a tour van. Green Room bleeds authenticity from its adolescent pores. On a side note, Green Room is the only film to have a reviewer argue it as not a horror film but as an action movie. Please feel free to weight in on this argument and do yourself a favor and check out Jeremy Saulnier's (Murder Party, Blue Ruin) other films and keep an eye out for this rising talent. Sadly we never got around to reviewing this one.
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2.) 10 Cloverfield Lane

Perhaps the most manipulative spiritual sequel in existence, this film had us questioning everything from aliens, to conspiracies, to if it was even legal to market this film the way they did. In the end it all makes sense and whether or not you accept the actual reality of the situation this may be the best execution of a screenplay this year in horror, not to mention how well acted and directed this film is. Part Twilight Zone episode and part lost Rosanne episode from hell, 10 Cloverfield Lane is anything but found footage.
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1.) The VVitch

Chris Columbus calls The Witch "The best horror film since The Shining". Now as a horror collective named after the vary same Kubrick film, I have to say that seems like a ridiculously bold statement. I mean both films are well researched pieces of fiction brought to life by their roots in reality. Both films require multiple viewings, one to understand why it unnerves us when there really isn't a real antagonist, and the other to understand what the hell anyone is saying. Both films are loosely based on books. And to be fair, Robert Eggers does have several very The Shining-esque moments in his debut film not to mention a very reminiscent score... Still, they didn't need to be compared. I mean does Mr. Columbus want all of the die hard Kubrick fans to burn Eggers alive?!

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Below is the individual Top 10 lists that the creatures created. These were painted in blood, cut into victims, and scribed by mystics but all used as equal parts in the spell Math Mage concocted to create the list above.

Lord Battle 

1. The Witch
2. Green Room
3. The Neon Demon
4. The Wailing 
5. 10 Cloverfield Lane
6. The Love Witch
7. Under the Shadow
8. The Boy
9. Conjuring 2
10. Ouija Origin of Evil

Huntress

1. Blair Witch
2. Under the Shadow
3. Conjuring 2
4. The Wailing
5. The Boy
6. Ouija Origin of Evil
7. The Neon Demon
8. 10 Cloverfield Lane
9. The Witch
10. Lights Out

The Great Hornito

1. The Witch
2. The Neon Demon
3. 10 Cloverfield Lane
4. Bad Ben
5. The Boy
6. The Ones Below
7. Krampus 2
8. Shelly 
9. JeruZalem
10. The Good Neighbor

KillDozer

1. Green Room
2. The Invitation
3. The Master Cleanse
4. The Witch
5. Phantasm V
6. Hush
7. The Neon Demon
8. Lights Out
9. Fender Bender

Speed Demon

1. Green Room
2. 10 Cloverfield Lane
3. The Conjuring 2
4. The Invitation
5. Fender Bender

Math Mage

1. 10 Cloverfield Lane
2. Under The Shadow
3. The Neon Demon
4. Don’t Breathe
5. The Witch
6. Baskin
7. Ouija Origin of Evil
8. Tokyo Grand Guignol
9. Meet the Blacks
10. Hush

Berkeley Blazer

1. Ixcanul
2. The Witch
3. Hush
4. Antibirth
5. The Wailing
6. Ouija Origin of Evil
7. Don’t Breathe
8. Green Room
9. 10 Cloverfield Lane
10. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

The Impostor

1. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
2. Don’t Breathe
3. The Neon Demon
4. The Witch
5. Conjuring 2
6. Under the Shadow
7. 10 Cloverfield Lane
8. The Boy
9. Lights Out
10. Green Room

Dabbles

1. 10 Cloverfield Lane
2. Don’t Breathe
3. Green Room
4. Hush
5. Under the Shadow
6. The Conjuring 2
7. The Witch
8. Blair Witch
9. Ouija Origin of Evil
10. The Boy

Trash

1. The Eyes of My Mother
2. Night of Something Strange
3. The Similars
4. Antibirth
5. Creepy
6. The Love Witch
7. Plank Face
8. Nina Forever
9. Trash Fire
10. The Alchemist’s Cookbook

The Ascendant

1. Green Room
2. American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock
3. 10 Cloverfield Lane
4. Train to Busan
5. Don’t Breathe
6. The Invitation
7. Harvest Lake
8. Trash Fire
9. Plank Face
10. The Wailing

- Lord Battle